Water movement as detection aid for molecules
RESOLV combines terahertz spectroscopy and simulation
Water is a ubiquitous solvent in all life sciences –
sometimes referred to as the "matrix of life". Contrary to earlier
assumptions, it is not a passive witness of biochemical processes; rather, it
participates in them actively. By influencing the movement of water molecules
surrounding their binding pockets, proteins can create a type of “funnel” in
the surrounding water, which assists the bonding of certain binding partners
that are solvated in water.